Ice tray



D66. 26, s TAYLOR ICE TRAY Filed Feb, 28, 1946 Patented Dec. 26, 1950ICE TRAY Robert S. Taylor, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Servel, Inc.,New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 28,1946, Serial No. 650,827

Claims. (Cl. 62-108.5)

The present invention is directed to a method of and means for looseningice cubes bonded to the longitudinal and lateral partitions of the gridin an ice freezing tray and relates back to my prior copendingapplication Serial No. 559,057, filed October 17, 1944, now abandoned,and entitled Ice Trays for all common subject matter.

One of the objects of the present invention is to apply a series offorce couples at spaced points along the longitudinal partition of thegrid to flex the partition throughout its length.

Another object is to move the grid relative to the tray and utilize themovement of the grid to move the lateral partitions with respect to thelongitudinal partition and apply a series of force couples at spacedpoints to warp the longitudinal partition sinuously throughout itslength.

Another object is to provide an ice tray grid having lateral partitionspivotally connected to the longitudinal partition and provided withhook-like portions engageable with the longitudinal partition.

Still another object is to provide abutments on the ice freezing trayadapted for engagement by the ends of the lateral partitions to causethe latter to pivot until their hook-like portions engage thelongitudinal partition and thereafter apply a series of force couples atspaced points along the longitudinal partition.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the followingdescription and drawings in which like reference characters denote likeparts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood,however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only andnot a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had forthis purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings; I

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an ice freezing tray and grid incorporatingthe novel features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the ice tray and gridillustrated in Fig. 1 and showing the force multiplying levers forlifting the grid relatively of the tray;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the grid raised withrespect to the tray, the lateral partitions rocked outwardly away fromthe longitudinal partition and the hook-like portions of the lateralpartitions applying force couples at spaced points along thelongitudinal partition;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken on line the ice and the tray.

4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the lateral partitions pivotally connected toflanges on the longitudinal partition and the-offset relationship of theadjacent lateral partitions on opposite sides of the longitudinalpartition;

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of a modified construction of grid havingpairs of lateral partitions arranged closely adjacent each other withtheir hook-like portions offset from each other to increase the bendingeffect on the longitudinal partition; and,

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the portion of the gridillustrated in Fig. 5.

The method of the present invention comprises the steps of lifting thegrid relatively of the ice freezing tray to break the bond between Thelateral partitions of the grid are then moved with respect to thelongitudinal partitions to break the bond between the cubes andpartitions. includes the step of utilizing the relative movement betweenthe lateral and longitudinal partitions to applya series of forcecouples at spaced points along the longitudinal partition to warp thelatter sinuously throughout its length whereby to peel it from the iceand insure loosening of the ice cubes from the lateral partitions.

The steps of the method may be performed manually with suitable tools,or they may be performed mechanically by cooperating parts of the gridand ice freezing tray. Several forms of construction of the ice freezingtray 10 and grid H are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forpracticing the method of the present invention. The ice freezing trayIll is of the usual shallow construction including a bottom I2, sidewalls l3, l4 and inclined end walls l5, 16. The upper edge of the sidewalls l3, l4 and the end wall l5 are rolled inwardly to provide a beador abutment l1 overlying the outer edges of the grid II. The bead orabutment I1 is provided with a series of spaced slots l8 for a purposeas will later appear. The upper edge of the end wall I6 and the portionsof the side walls l3 and I4 adjacent the end wall are rolled outwardlyto provide a bead [9.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the gridH comprises a longitudinal partition 20 extending throughout the lengthof the tray l0. While the longitudinal partition may have other forms,it preferably consists of a single sheet-metal strip of thin flexiblematerial having its ends 2| and 22 shaped to conform to the contour ofthe inclined end walls I5 and I6 of the tray. A series of The methodfurther 3 angle pieces are attached to opposite sides of thelongitudinal partition 21? as by welding or the like to provide lateralflanges 23, and the flanges extend to the top of the partition, see Fig.3.

A lateral partition 25; is pivotally connected to each flange 23 on thelongitudinal partition by means of a pivot pin 25. As shown in detail inFigs. 3 and 4, the lateral partitions 24 are pivotally connected to theflanges 23 adjacent their lower edges to adapt them for rocking movementto the position shown in Fig. 3. The pivot pins 25 are peened incountersunk holes 26 and 21 in the flanges 23 and lateral partitions 24,respectively, to provide fiat end faces flush with the outside surfacesof the flanges and partitions, see Fig. 4. As shown most clearly in Fig.l, the adjacent flanges 23 at opposite sides of the longitudinalpartition 2e are offset along the longitudinal partition 26 and asillustrated the flanges on one side are positioned midway between theflanges on the other side. Each lateral partition 24 is provided with ahook-like portion 28 adjacent its upper edge which overlies the top ofthe longitudinal partition 20. The hook-like portions 28 of the lateralpartitions 24 are provided with shoulders 29 which are normally spaced aslight distance from the sides of the longitudinal partition 22: butengageable with the sides of the longitudinal partition 29 to limittheir pivotal movement, see Fig. 3.

The hook-like portions 28 of adjacent lateral partitions 24 are adaptedto apply a force couple to the longitudinal partition 2b which tends torotate the latter in one direction or the other alternately throughoutits length. For example, the first and second lateral partitions 24 atthe right hand end of the grid as viewed in Fig. I tend to rotate thelongitudinal partition in a counterclockwise direction while the secondand third partitions tend to rotate the longitudinal partition in aclockwise direction, see arrows in Fig. 1 indicating the direction offorces applied.

A force multiplying mechanism is provided for lifting the grid Iirelative to the tray I0 and as illustrated in the drawings compriseslevers 30 and SI at opposite ends of the grid. The levers 30 and 3! havebifurcated lugs 32 which straddle the longitudinal partition 20 adjacentits ends and are pivotally connected thereto by means of pins 33extending through the lugs and partition. The shorter ends 34 of thelevers 30 and 3I overlie the ends of the ice tray Ill while the longerhandle portions-35 of the levers overlie the grid II t A preferred formof ice tray and grid-having nowbeen described indetail, the modeofoperation is explained as follows. I

The grid i I is first positioned over the ice freezing tray It with theouter edges of the lateral partitions 24 aligned with the slots I8 inthe bead or abutment Il at the upper edge of the side walls of the icetray. The grid is then lowered into the ice tray until the inclined end22 of the longitudinal partition 20 engages the inclined end I6 of theice tray. Due to the dimensions of the lateral partitions 2 their upperedges will be positioned below the abutment H on the ice tray when theinclined end 22 of the longitudinal partition engages the inclined endI6 of the tray. Upon further downward movement of the grid-I I into thetray It, the relative sliding movement of the inclined ends I6 and 22will cause a longitudinal shifting of the grid relative to the tray sothat the ends of the lateral partitions 24 underlie the abutments I? onthe tray. The tray I0 may then be filled with water and stored in theice freezing compartment of a refrigerator until the nvater is frozen.

To remove the ice cubes from the tray, the handle portions 35 of thelevers 3i) and 3! are swung outwardly. Such movement of the forcemultiplying levers 3t and 3| pries or cams the grid and ice frozenthereto upwardly with respect to the ice tray I8 and breaks the bondbetween the ice and tray. Such lifting movement of the grid I I iscontinued until the outer edges of the lateral partitions 2t engage theabutments ll at the sides of the ice tray It. The upward movement of thegrid II relatively of the tray I0 then causes a pivotal movement of thelateral partitions 213 on the pins 25 with respect to the longitudinalpartition 25). Such pivotal movement of the lateral partitions 24 willloosen the bond between the partitions and the sides of the ice cubes.

The rocking or pivotal movement of the lateral partitions 24 willcontinue until the shoulders 29 of the hook-like portions 23 engage theopposite sides of the longitudinal partition 29 which limits furtherpivotal movement. The shoulders 29 of the lateral partitions 24 thenwill apply the force from the force multiplying levers 38 and 3| to theopposite sides of the longitudinal partition 28 at spaced pointstherealong. Due to the offset relationship of adjacent lateralpartitions 24, their hook portions 28 will produce a series of forcecouples on the longitudinal partition 29 at spaced points therealong tocause it to flex or warp sinuously throughout its length as indicated bythe dash line in Fig. 1 which exaggerates the flexing. Such warping ofthe longitudinal partition 29 will cause it to peel away from the icecubes and move the ice cubes relative to the lateral partitions toinsure loosening of the ice cubes from the grid.

The grid then may be shifted longitudinally of the tray ID until theends of the lateral partitions 24 align with the slots I8 in theabutments I! on the tray and the grid iI lifted out of the tray, theportions of the abutments i7 between the slots stripping the ice cubesfrom the grid. The loosened ice cubes may be removed from the right handend of the tray having the outwardly rolled bead I9 which facilitatesremoval.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified construction of grid in which thelateral partitions 24 are arranged in pairs with the partitions of eachpair closely adjacent each other, but the hooklike portions 28 areofiset with respect to the planes of the lateral partitions so that eachpair of adjacent lateral partitions apply force couples at points spacedfrom the axis of rotation to increase the moment arm and bending eiifecton the longitudinal partition 20. The form of grid illustrated in Figs.5 and 6 operates in the same manner as previously explained with respectto the formof construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4.

It will now be observed that the present invention provides a novelmethod and means of loosening ice cubes from the grid in an ice tray. Italso will be observed that the method and means of the present inventionutilizes the lifting movement of the grid relatively of the tray topivot the lateral partitions with respect to the longitudinal partitionand thereafter utilizes the relative movement to apply a series of forcecouples to the longitudinal partition to warp it sinuously throughoutits length. It will still further be observed that the present inventionprovides a novel construction and arrangement of elements in an ice trayand grid.

Whilethe method and several forms of construction of ice tray and gridare herein illus trated and described, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that further modifications may be made in the stepsof the method and in the form of construction of the ice tray and gridwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Forinstance, the lateral partitions may be formed integrally with thelongitudinal partition and offset therealong to apply a series of forcecouples to the longitudinal partition by the engagement of their endswith abutments on the tray. Therefore, without limiting myself in thisrespect the invention is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of freeing ice cubes bonded to the continuous longitudinaland articulated lateral partitions of a grid in an ice freezing traywhich comprises moving the grid relative to the tray, restraining themovement of the lateral partitions at fixed points during such movementto cause them to pivot with respect to the longitudinal partition, andapplying a series of force couples at spaced points along thelongitudinal partition to cause it to warp sinuously throughout itslength.

2. The method of freeing ice cubes bonded to the continuous longitudinaland articulated lateral partitions of a grid in an ice freezing traywhich comprises lifting the grid relative to the tray, restraining themovement of the lateral partitions at fixed points to cause thelongitudinal partition to move relative thereto, and utilizing themovement of the longitudinal partition relative to the lateralpartitions to apply a series of force couples at spaced points along thelongitudinal partition to warp the latter sinuously throughout itslength.

3. An ice freezing tray, a grid in said tray having a continuouslongitudinal partition and lateral partitions arranged in spacedrelationship along the longitudinal partition to divide the ice trayinto a series of compartments, force multiplying means for moving thegrid relative to the tray, and connections between the lateralpartitions and the longitudinal partition operable upon movement of thegrid relative to the tray to apply a series of force couples at spacedpoints to warp the longitudinal partition sinuously throughout itslength.

4. An ice freezing tray, a grid in said tray having a longitudinalpartition and lateral partitions arranged in spaced relationship alongthe longitudinal partition to divide the ice tray into a series ofcompartments, said lateral partitions being pivotally connected to thebottom of the longitudinal partition, force multiplying means for movingthe grid relative to the tray, abutments on the tray for limiting themovement of the lateral partitions, and hook-like portions on thelateral partitions engaging the sides of the longitudinal partition to lmit the pivotal movement, said hook-like port ons of the lateralpartitions applying force couples on the longitudinal partition to warpthe latter sinuously throughout its length.

5. An ice freezing tray, a grid in said tray having a continuouslongitudinal partition and lateral partitions arranged in spacedrelationship along the longitudinal partition to divide the ice trayinto a series of compartments, the adjacent lateral partitions at theopposite sides of the longitudinal partition being offset longitudinallyof the latter, said lateral partitions having connections to thelongitudinal partition at the top and'bottom thereof, force multiplyingmechanism for moving the grid relative to the tray, and abutments on thetray engageable by the ends of the lateral partitions to limit therelative movement of the grid and tray whereby a force couple is appliedby the adjacent offset lateral partitions to Warp the longitudinalpartition and free the ice bonded thereto.

6. An ice freezing tray, a grid in said tray having a longitudinalpartition and lateral partitions arranged in spaced relationship alongthe longitudinal partition to divide the ice tray into a series ofcompartments, the adjacent lateral partitions at the opposite sides ofthe longitudinal partition being offset longitudinally thereof andpivotally connected thereto, structure for limiting the pivotal movementof the lateral partitions relative to the longitudinal partition,

force multiplying mechanism for moving the grid relative to the tray,and abutment on the tray engageable-by the ends of the lateralpartitions during the relative movement of the grid and tray to causethe lateral partitions to move with respect to the longitudinalpartition and thereafter apply a force couple to warp the longitudinalpartition whereby to free the ice bonded to both the lateral andlongitudinal partitions.

'7. An ice freezing tray, a grid in said tray having a longitudinalpartition and lateral partitions arranged in spaced relationship alongthe longitudinal partition to divide the ice tray into a series ofcompartments, structure connecting the lateral partitions to thelongitudinal partition for pivotal movement thereon, hooks on thelateral partitions arranged in offset relationship and engageable withthe opposite sides of the longitudinal partition to limit the pivotalmovement, force multiplying mechanism for moving the grid relative tothe tray, and abutments on the tray engageable by the ends of thelateral partitions to cause them to pivot with respect to thelongitudinal partition until the hooks engage the latter and thereafterapply a force couple to warp the longitudinal partition.

8. An ice freezing tray, a grid in said tray having a longitudinalpartition and lateral partitions arranged in spaced relationship alongthe longitudinal partition to divide the ice tray into a series ofcompartments, structure pivotally connecting the lateral partitions tothe longitudinal partition adjacent the lower edge thereof, hookshapedportions on the lateral partitions overlying the upper edge of thelongitudinal partition to limit the pivotal movement, force multiplyingmechanism for lifting the grid relative to the tray, and abutments onthe tray engageable by the ends of the lateral partitions to cause themto pivot on the longitudinal partition until the hook-shaped portionsengage the latter, said hook-shaped portions of the lateral partitionsthereafter applying a series of force couples at spaced points along thelongitudinal partition to warp the latter sinuously throughout itslength.

9. An ice freezing tray, a grid in said tray having a longitudinalpartition and lateral partitions arranged in spaced relationship alongthe longitudinal partition to divide the ice tray into a series ofcompartments, flanges extending laterally from the longitudinalpartition in offset relationship, pins pivotally connecting the lateralpartitions to the flanges adjacent their lower ends, hook-like portionson the lateral partitions engageable with the sides of the longitudinalcouples at spaced points along the longitudinal,

partition to warp the latter sinuously throughout its length.

10. An ice freezing tray having inturned edges provided with spacedslots, a grid in said tray having a longitudinal partition and lateralpartitions arranged in spaced relationship along the longitudinalpartition to divided the ice tray into a series of compartments, thelateral partitions being pivotally connected to the longitudinalpartition and having hook-shaped portions engageable with the sides ofthe longitudinal partition to limit the pivotal movement and thereafterapply force couples to Warp the longitudinal partition, and forcemultiplying mechanism for lifting the grid relative to the tray, saidgrid being inserted into the tray through the spaced slots in theinturned edges thereof and the ends of the lateral partitions beingengageable with the inturned edges of the tray when the grid is liftedby the force multiplying mechanism whereby to pivot the lateralpartitions and warp the longitudinal partition to free the ice bondedthereto.

ROBERT s. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,199,798 Jacobs May 7, 1940 202,215,324 Hallock Sept. 17, 1940 2,291,437 Andersson July 28, 1942

